THE SPORTING LEAGUE.

NZ Truth, Issue 74, 17 November 1906, Page 2

THE SPORTING LEAGUE.

Successful Preliminary Meeting.

The Wowsers to be Smitten Hip and Thigh.

The Ballot Box to be Used for the Flattcning-Out Process.

A preliminary meeting of persons interested m various branches of sport was 'held at the Forbes Hotel, Kiiif and York-streets, Sydney, last Monday week, to take steps to form a Sporting Leagtie. Before 8 o'clock the large room was crowded, and dozens clustered on the stairway and approaches. Fully 400 to 500 who came after that hour were unable to gain admittance. Alderman R. D. Meagher presided, and read some letters of apology and promises of support from various parts of the State. One was from the N.S.W. Athletic League promising the assistance of 150 clubs and 1500 members.

Mr R. E. Oaten, secretary of the Athletic League, stated that he was; present personally to announce, that his members were strong on the subject, and would do all they could to further the interests of the new league. Mr A&her Hart proposed the first resolution,—

That it is desirable to form a New South Wales Sporting League (to embrace all branches .. of legitimate sport) m defence of individual liberty and against the encroachment of Puritanical legislation.

He described the action of Mr Wade on the Gambling Act and on the Licensing Act as that of a wriggler of the flrstr order. He qjioted copiously from "Hansard" to prove Mr Wade's shiftiness m the definition of a "place." Mr John Norton, m seconding the resolution, s-aid :— "I /apprehend— if I am to believe the pimply press and the canting parsons, who seem to have got a firm grip and intend to keep a hard hold of us all— that I am not at present m very desirable company— (laughter)— or must I say that it is desirable company for the notorious John Norton. (Laughter and a voice, "Good boy, Johnny, give it to 'em.") Seriously it does seem to me that the time is ripe for the formation of a league on the lines indicated, to .protect the sport-loving people of New South Wales from the damnable designs of the parsons. In sayine- this, I wish to make it clear that the Puritanical movement does not come from the clergy of the great Anglican Church nor the clergy of the Roman Catholic Church, but from a small, jaundiced lot of frauds. The real exploiters of this, so-called movement are what I will term a gang of hungry-gutted methodistical Wesleyan wowsers— (applause)— whose empty bethels and empty chapels have constrained them to turn their attention from their pulpits to political plots m order to snare a few shekels. He referred to the Wqrralls and the Judkinses and their imitators who had done so much to injure sport during the past year. Sport Was necessary to the proper upbuilding of the British nation. The Duke of Wellington had said that the battles of England were won on the playfields of Eton. From the trend of things we would go back to the times of the Sumptuary Laws, and would be told by Parliament what to eat and drink. It would soon "be as bad as m the days of Oliver Cromwell and the days of the Blue Laws. Personally he was not a grea.t patron of sport beyond that section of it catered for by Mr Brennan at the National Sporting Club and Mr Campbell of the Gaiety Club, but he believed m sport generally being free and untrammelled for ail who desired to participate m it. He had heard it stated that the laws were now passed and nothing; could he done. Did tbev live m the days of the Medes and Persians, when laws could not be altered ? He advocated the extension of the leaste throughout i.be length and brnadth of the country, so thnt whon next the people went +o the ballot-box they woulri be able to frpp thprrtselvos from \]\p rf rumination nf the dastardly \7ows^rs." (Anplaupp.l

Mr O. A. Jones, M.L.A. for the

(Iwydir, .spoke m .support of iiu resolution. He said that he was one who, m his place m Parliament, did his utmost to defeat the Gaming Bill. People were only beginning to realise the far-reaching effects of the new legislation. It was not only m the city vrhere betting' arrangements were interfered with, but m the country, where the price of stock would be materially depreciated, that the evil influence of the legislation would <be most seriously felt. At the yearling sales the evil would be shown. By the importation of blood stock and careful breeding, the average value of horses had gone up considerably. It would quickly go back to the old rate, as people had all the inducements for speculating m horseflesh taken away "by the new legislation. He believed the league would do a lot of good m having the matters complained of rectified through the ballot-box next election.

Mr W. P. Crick, speaking m support of the motion, said the legislation m New South Wales had the effect of opening the eyes of the Victorians. In their Bill a "place" was determined on the lines of the Kempton Park case. He thought Mr Jones had hit the right nail on the head when he said the yearling sales would show the results. Instead of ah aubtioneer getting £1200 or £1500 for a yearling he will be lucky to get £200 or £300. People will'not take, the risks- of purchasing under -the new conditions. Some years ago th'e' prices of horses' in New South Wales averaged about £5 per head, but it had gone up to about £20 per head. People could afford to give a good price for a good 'horse, as, after winning, a few races, it Could be' used for stud purposes. Now it would not be worth the candle. Prices would fall, and country breeders would feel the full effects. They had heard a lot about wowsers of late. They had seen one blasphemous ruffian at the Bar of the House m Melbourne say : "Oh, Lord, T thank Thee io-aay that I have suffered as You have suffered." This fellow, who could hot go down to Melbourne without a special train, said after his "■martyrdom" that his wife insisted on his going the Fiji girls. (Laughter.) Then we had Judkins. Who ' Judkins" was no One seemed able to find out. His friend Mr Norton was a very inquisitive man, and no doubt if Mr Norton ascertained where Judkins came from he might find he had a very great adriiiration for the opposite sex.

Mr Norton : Why, .that's a very great virtue.' (Laughter.) Continuing, Mr Crick said he would give £10' lOs towards the expenses of the new league, and concluded with some advice as to its organisation,, and 1 the methods by which its influence should be extended throughout the country. f The motion was put and carried enthusiastically.

The Hon. Henry Stuart, M.L.C., moved the second resolution, —

That a committee be formed with power to add to its number, to arrange for a monster public demonstration, at an early date, to carry, out the objects of the foregoing resolution, and that a fund be opened for the purpose, the members. of the committee being Messrs R. D. Meagher, W. P. Crick, John Norton, Geo. Jones, M.L.A., John Ashtori, A. A..' Thomson, A. Eather, R. Oaten, 'J. Murtough, j. ODea, Fitygerald, R. Grant," F : Parkes, Hi. Kearney, Mr H. Pateson, Captain Christenson, Messrs A. Farthing, C. -Greaves, F. A.

Buckleton, M. Lewis, D. (Jreen, J

H. Hitchcock, and the mover. He said he was very glad Mr Norton had brought the matter up and distinguished between the wowsers and Anglioan and Roman Catholics. People got a fair /and square deal from the two big religious bodies, but he'd be damned if they did from the wowsers.

Mr Norton : You'll be damned anyhow after that. (Laughter.)

Mr Stuart, continuing, stated that he had called for a division m the Council, but m , the excitement of rushing the measure through his request was not heeded.

Mr A. Eather seconded the motion. He said that his interest lay m coursing. It was a most unfair ; thing that betting, should be prohibited on coursing on .a racecpurse, while on the same course betting was declared qjUite legal on horsey. Mr A. E. O'Brien pointed out that the new Act. would destroy sculling. We had looked forward to the international contest between Towns and the Canadian champion' Durhan, but under the Act the usual betting would be stopped. They would probably have to go elsewhere for. the championship . There were also other sports that would suffer through 'the Act. There were at. least 30 or 40 cyclists training on the tracks every day and thousands of these riders would be seriously 'affected 'by the new legislation. Mr H. Pateson said that the legiSr lation that was proceeding was making New South Wales as bad as Russia. If there were much more of it Sydney would be a good place to be out of. He considered it most unfair that the Legislature should intefere with the people's sports. He did not object to. the A.J.C. ruling horse racing as it liked', but it had no right to interfere with and limit the "days of the people's pastime—pony racing. Mr Fitzgerald moved a vote of confidence m the chairman, and the meeting closed. The executive committee proceeded to discuss details. It was decided to hold the next meeting- of intending members on November 16, wjien arrangements will be completed for a big public demonstration.